GEMS Board of Directors
The GEMS Board of Directors has 13 members, including a president, president-elect, secretary, treasurer, and 9 councilors. The Board meets monthly to plan and prepare for the two annual GEMS meetings.
Past Board of Directors can be found here.
Board of Directors
President
Sury Vulimiri, Ph.D., DABT
Dr. Sury Vulimiri is a Biologist in the Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division (CPAD) of the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) in ORD at the U.S. EPA. Dr. Vulimiri received his Bachelor’s in Veterinary Sciences (B.V.Sc) and Master’s in Veterinary Microbiology (M.V.Sc), from the A.P. Agricultural University, Hyderabad, India and Ph.D. in Microbiology and Cell Biology from the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, India. Dr. Vulimiri is a certified Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT). He pursued his post-doctoral training in endogenous DNA damage at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX and in PAH-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis and molecular epidemiology of breast and lung cancers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, where he was promoted as a non-tenured Assistant Professor. During that time, Dr. Vulimiri received an RO3 grant from NIH-NCI to study “Vitamin C supplementation on smoking-related DNA damage” and a NIEHS pilot project grant to study the “Role of Nucleotide Excision Repair in Chemical Carcinogenesis” where he used benzo[a]pyrene-induced complete carcinogenesis studies in xeroderma pigmentosum knockout mice. Later, he worked as a Toxicologist in industry. At EPA, Dr. Vulimiri works on genetic toxicity of environmental exposure-relevant chemicals, such as ethylene oxide, benzo[a]pyrene, formaldehyde, TCE etc. He also provides technical support to the Provisional Peer-Reviewed Toxicity Values (PPRTV) program and Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) encompassing cancer and non-cancer assessments of human health risk from exposure to hazardous chemicals. His current research interests include systematic review methods, genetic toxicology, toxicokinetics, human health risk assessment, molecular mechanisms and mode of action of environmental chemicals. Dr. Vulimiri co-chaired a Symposium on “Transplacental Carcinogenesis: Cancer and Noncancer Health Outcomes” at the 2016 annual EMGS meeting and was the co-editor of a Special Issue of Environmental Molecular Mutagenesis on Transplacental Carcinogenesis; worked on the editorial boards of Advances in Toxicology, Journal of Biochemical and Microbial Technology and Drug and Chemical Toxicology; reviewer of several toxicology- and cancer-related scientific journals; recipient of one bronze medal in 2017 for ethylene oxide support and two bronze medals in 2019 for TSCA and Systematic Workflow and Assessment Tools teams support from EPA as part of ORD’s Honor Awards. Dr. Vulimiri has co-authored 34 peer-reviewed publications, 9 book chapters, and several conference presentations to his credit. He has been a life member and current councilor of GEMS and member of EMGS and SOT. Dr. Vulimiri is looking forward to serving and supporting the mission of GEMS.
President- Elect
Amy Wang, Ph.D, PMP
Dr. Amy Wang is a toxicologist in the Integrative Health Assessments Branch, Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The DTT is a part of the National Toxicology Program. At the DTT, Dr. Wang leads teams to conduct chemical hazard assessment, and functions as the program manager of the Carcinogenesis Health Effects Innovation Program. Specializing in mechanisms, Dr. Wang is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in literature-based evaluation methodologies. She served as the Vice Chairperson for an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monograph Working Group (volume 131 on metals) and as an invited expert for the IARC Scientific Workshop on Key Characteristics-associated Endpoints for Evaluating Mechanistic Evidence of Carcinogenic Hazards. She was an invited panelist for the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals to peer review the revised US EPA Toxic Substances Control Act Systematic Review Protocol.
Before joining the NIEHS, Dr. Wang worked in the private sector. Prior to that, she was a postdoc at the US EPA where she conducted nanomaterial Comprehensive Environmental Assessment and later screened nanomaterial bioactivities using ToxCast assays. Dr. Wang received her master’s degree and Ph.D. from Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Dr. Wang recently served as a Councilor on the Board of Directors for GEMS. Over the years, she has served on the boards of various specialty sections and regional chapters of the Society of Toxicology (SOT), and on the board of a local chapter of the Society of Risk Analysis. She currently is currently involved in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) efforts at the DTT, the NIEHS, and the National Institute of Health. She is looking forward to contributing more to GEMS and serving the members in all career stages.
Secretary
Leah Wehmas, Ph.D.
I am a Genomics Scientist within the Experimental Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics Branch of the Center of Computational Toxicology and Exposure at US EPA. My research applies genomics, new approach methodologies, and systems biology-based approaches to better understanding the adverse effects of environmental chemicals and to enhance traditional safety assessments. I received a BS in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Minnesota Duluth researching colorectal cancer and subsequently worked on endocrine disruption in fish at the Mid-Continent Ecology Division of the US EPA. In 2015, I obtained a PhD in Environmental and Molecular Toxicology from Oregon State University by identifying the physicochemical properties contributing to nanomaterial toxicity and developing a novel zebrafish xenograft assay to study human brain cancer progression. In 2016, before transitioning to my current position, I examined gene expression in archival tissue samples to help link molecular pathways of toxicity with traditional endpoints of regulatory concern. My current research involves incorporating New Approach Methods such as cell-based assays, archival tissue analyses, gene editing, and gene expression dose response modeling to more quickly assess chemical risk. I have previous experience in serving as a regional science group graduate student representative for the Society of Toxicology and in serving as VP of Membership for the RTP Speakin' Ezy Toastmasters. I currently lead the Emerging Science and Assessment of Risk archival sample working group within the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) and serve on the executive steer committee. As the GEMS secretary, I will apply my background in genomics and skills garnered from Toastmasters and HESI to encourage young scientists, enhance opportunities for professional development, promote cutting edge environmental and genomics science, and advance science communication within the organization. I would be honored to serve as GEMS secretary.
Treasurer
Jacquelyn Bower, Ph.D.
Dr. Bower received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame, and completed her Ph.D. in Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences at West Virginia University. Her doctoral dissertation work was performed at the Centers for Disease Control/National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (CDC/NIOSH) and focused on delineating the molecular mechanisms of environmental arsenic exposure and its effects on reactive oxygen species production, cell cycle arrest, and DNA repair. During her postdoctoral fellowship at UNC-Chapel Hill, her work focused on understanding the molecular basis of G2/M cell cycle checkpoint function and its aberrant regulation in cancer cells. She is currently a Research Assistant Professor at UNC-Chapel Hill in the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Ophthalmology, where studies the mechanisms by which DNA damage/repair, aberrant regulation of the cell cycle, and genomic instability cooperatively contribute to mutagenesis and chemoresistance in uveal melanoma and breast cancer. She has been a GEMS member since 2008 and previously served as a board member.
2024-2026 COUNCILORS
Joel Meyer, Ph.D.
I received a B.S. from Juniata College, and then moved to Guatemala where I worked for five years in a number of fields including appropriate technology. Building cookstoves, latrines and observing water pollution led me to pursue a Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Duke University. My thesis research triggered an interest in toxic effects of pollutants on mitochondria and DNA, which I studied in postdoctoral research with Ben Van Houten at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. I joined the faculty of the Nicholas School of the Environment in 2007. My group has been especially interested in the response to DNA damage that is irreparable in the mitochondrial genome. More recently, we have become interested in the disparate effects of different kinds of environment-mediated mitochondrial stress. Because mitochondrial diseases are common in the population, we are also studying how the effects of mitotoxicant exposures vary in the context of genetic differences. Most of our work is with the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans or cell culture, but we also work collaboratively in invitro systems, other non-human species, and human populations.
Sally Elkan, MBA
Sally Elkan is a Healthcare and Life Sciences Solutions Leader at EPAM with more than 25 years of experience in Payer, Provider and Life Sciences transformation. Sally has also worked for TAP (Takeda/Abbott) Pharmaceuticals and TherImmune, a start-up Contract Research Organization & Regulatory consulting company prior to joining IBM and eventually EPAM.
Sally's career is focused on the intersection of transformational technology with healthcare and life sciences clients to improve patient outcomes, and foster innovation to bring therapeutics to market faster. Her MBA from George Washington University, postgraduate class in Biotechnology at Johns Hopkins University, Certificate in Artificial Intelligence from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and her BBA in Computer Information Systems coupled with her career achievements would add diversity to the GEMS Board. In combining her education and career experience with GEMS’ focus on Environmental and Genetics Health Science, Sally hopes to add value by expanding the GEMS-NC community.
Andre Weaver, Ph.D., DABT
Dr. Weaver is a Biologist in the Chemical and Pollutant Assessment Division of the Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment (CPHEA) in ORD at the U.S. EPA. He received his Ph.D in the Inter-disciplinary program in Physiology from Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. He pursued post-doctoral studies at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda ,MD in the Center for Cancer Prevention where he studied the molecular biology of selenoproteins using genetic approaches incorporating mouse knock-out models and at UNC’s Lineberger Cancer Center where he investigated novel strategies for targeting tumor cell using nanoparticles and chromatin remodeling. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology. After a brief stay in industry Dr. Weaver joined the CPHEA where has been actively involved in chemical health risk assessment in support of the IRIS program and as well as the Provisional Peer-Reviewed Toxicity Values (PPRTV) program and serves as a co-chair for the General toxicology, Immune and Cancer workgroup. He also has provided technical support for the Toxic Substances Control Act mandated chemical risk assessments. His current research interest include systematic review methods, genetic toxicology, cancer, and human risk assessment. He is currently a member of GEMs and a full time SOT member.
2023-2025 COUNCILORS
Alyssa Brookhart
Alyssa Brookhart received B.Sc. degrees in Biomedical and Environmental Sciences from North Carolina Wesleyan University. She was awarded Supplemental Instruction Leader of the Year in 2021 and 2022 for assisting students in cell biology, anatomy, and physiology courses. With the guidance of Dr. Daniel Elias, she studied the effects of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) on aquatic organisms. She received grants from the NC Wildlife Federation and NCICU in support of her professional development and research proposals. She presented some of her work at NC Honors Association, NC Academy of Science, and NCICU conferences. As a Toxicology Intern at Syngenta, she analyzed transcriptomic and pathological findings associated with pesticide exposures. She has assisted with preparation of a manuscript and abstract for this work, which was presented at the SOT meeting of 2023. She is currently a Research Assistant in the Data Management and Communications practice area of Gryphon Scientific, where she performs data collection, analysis, and quality control efforts for a variety of clients. Across multiple projects, she validates the accuracy of data submitted by research centers before it is deposited into public repositories. This role highlights the importance of making scientific findings available to the general public, especially with research that influences policy decisions. Alyssa is looking to expand research opportunities available for others, propose unique avenues for professional development, and build connections between experts, aspiring scientists, and other members of the community.
Tess Leuthner, Ph.D.
Dr. Tess Leuthner is a Charles W. Hargitt Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Biology Department at Duke University under the mentorship of Dr. Ryan Baugh. She is broadly interested in gene by environment interactions. Her current research focuses on the contribution of genetic variation on susceptibility and response to various chemical exposures, with a particular emphasis on heavy metals and PFAS. Dr. Leuthner is harnessing the genetic variation from hundreds of wild strains of the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, from the Caenorhabditis Natural Diversity Resource to apply statistical and quantitative genetic approaches to investigate how genetic architecture affects response to chemical exposures (genome-wide associate analyses) and how exposure affects genetic architecture (transcriptomics and epigenomics approaches), with the goal to identify candidate variants that contribute to variation in toxicity and response to exposures. Dr. Leuthner earned her PhD in Toxicology and Environmental Health as a Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Fellow under the mentorship of Dr. Joel Meyer in the Nicholas School of the Environment (Duke University). Her dissertation research focused on elucidating the effects of known nuclear mutagens and carcinogens on mitochondrial DNA damage and mutagenesis, where she adapted an ultra-sensitive error-corrected sequencing technique (Duplex Sequencing) to C. elegans. Tess has attended GEMS meetings since 2015, and is very excited to engage more closely with the society and GEMS members as a Councilor.
Arjun Keshava, MPH
Arjun Keshava, MPH is a Ph.D student and researcher in Dr. Rebecca Fry’s lab at University of North Carolina, Gillings School of Global Public Health. He is also an ORISE fellow at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He has worked on regulation on nitric oxide signaling, effect of PFAS on trophoblast migration and heavy metals in Dr. Fry’s lab for the past five years. Furthermore, at EPA, Arjun is working on a study that investigates response to low level of concentrated ambient particles as well as looking into how nutritional factors relate to PFAS exposure. Previously, Arjun interned at National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and Environmental Protection Agency where he conducted research on DNA methylation and gene expression. He has presented his work at Society of Toxicology, Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society, Genetics and Environmental Mutagenesis Society (GEMS) and earned travel awards/best poster award. Arjun was also selected as one of ten Public Health Scholars in the United States. His research area of interest includes epigenetics, environment health and heavy metals. Arjun is an active member of GEMS and his goal is to bring in the student perspective to GEMS and encourage other young researchers to get involved in society activities.
2022-2024 COUNCILORS
Tod Harper, Ph.D. DABT
Tod Harper Jr., Ph.D., DABT is a nonclinical safety scientist at Amgen where he serves as a project toxicologist supporting potential therapeutics from discovery through development. At Amgen Tod is also a part of the Genetic Toxicology Unit where he is involved in genetic toxicology regulatory strategy and development of new genetic toxicology assays to advance or fill gaps from the current battery of assays. Additionally, he is responsible for regulatory guidance and the development of strategies to better assess the safety of oligotherapeutics in the non-clinical space. Tod was previously at Syngenta Crop Protection as a Technical Expert in Human Safety supporting discovery and development of potential crop protection products. Prior to joining industry, Tod was a postdoctoral scholar at Oregon State University studying the role of PAH-DNA adducts in the development of lymphoma after in utero exposure. Tod received his Ph.D. in Pharmacology & Toxicology from the University of Texas Medical Branch where his dissertation focused on the physiological functions of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Tod currently represents Amgen on several external working groups including the EFPIA Oligonucleotide Working Group, HESI Genetic Toxicology Committee (GTTC), the DIA Oligonucleotide Safety Working Group, and is the Society of Toxicology (SOT) Biotechnology Specialty Section President.
Elizabeth Irving
Elizabeth Irvin is a second-year PhD student in the Toxicology Program at North Carolina State University, working under the mentorship of Dr. Hong Wang. Her research uses single-molecule imaging techniques, namely atomic force microscopy, to study protein-nucleic acid interactions that maintain chromatin structure and are involved in DNA damage recognition/repair – two processes essential for promoting genome stability. Besides serving as a GEMS Councilor, Elizabeth is an NC State Goodnight Fellow and has served as the First Year Representative and Secretary for the Toxicology Graduate Student Association (TGSA) at NC State, which serves to support and advocate for the needs of graduate students in the program.
Sierra Moorefield, P.hD.
Sierra Moorefield is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Toxicology Program here at NCSU, where she works in Dr. Michael Cowley’s Developmental Epigenetics and the Environment Lab. Her project focuses on understanding how developmental cadmium exposure programs non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in later life. She hopes to be able to publish her current findings in early spring of next year. Sierra joined NC SOT as an undergraduate student and attended her first conference in 2017, where you may have seen her poster on cleft palate research that she conducted as an intern at the US EPA under the direction of Dr. Barbara Abbott. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Meredith College in 2018. She has also been a member of NC GEMS since 2019 and was recently awarded first place for her research presentation. She presented a student platform presentation of her work during the annual Mountain West SOT chapter meeting this past year, where she was awarded second place. This is her second year serving as the Secretary for the NCSU Toxicology Graduate Student Association, which has given her the opportunity to gain experience representing graduate student needs to department heads, communicating important information to her peers in a timely manner, and organizing and implementing various program events.
IN MEMORIAM
Tom Hughes, M.S.
Tom Hughes, M.S., was the co-founder of GEMS in 1983. He served as the GEMS President three times and served on the BOD as Councilor, Treasurer, Corporate Sponsor Coordinator and Vice President. He was awarded the GEMS Lifetime Achievement Award at the Annual Meeting in 2015. He was a QA and Records Manager at the US EPA for 17 years and a laboratory scientist at the US EPA for 5 years prior to being a QA and Records Manager. Scientifically, he was involved in the World Trade Center (WTC) research, where a 20 member Team exposed mice to dusts from the WTC immediately after the 9/11/01 disaster and in the Penobscot River Study in Maine where the water, sediment and drinking water of the Penobscot River and the fish and plants that were investigated for toxicity for the Penobscot Indian Nation. Previous to being at the US EPA, Tom was a Principal Investigator in two contract labs for 20 years, where he conducted GLP testing for industrial clients, and conducted toxicology testing for industry, NCI, EPA and NTP. Tom was the U.S. EPA QA Manager of the Year in 2002 and was a US EPA National Honor Award winner in 2014 for his work with the Penobscot Indians. He retired from the US EPA after 22 years on October 29, 2016 after which he continued to be an invaluable supporter of the mission of GEMS.
Images of Drs. George Woodall, Ramesh Kovi, Suzanne Martos, Amy Wang, and Esra Mutlu were taken by Steven R. McCaw, NIEHS Multimedia Services